Highlights of Uganda: Wildlife & Landscapes - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe, Kampala City Tour

Day 2: Mabira Ziplining, Nile Tour & Jinja Arts & Crafts

This morning your driver will head east toward Jinja, home to the long-disputed source of the Nile River. Along the way, you'll stop in Mabira, Uganda's largest natural forest, where you'll take a thrilling ziplining experience from Griffin Camp. Glide through the treetops via a network of five zip lines, spotting native wildlife and the roaring Griffin Falls. 

Afterward, continue your journey to Jinja City, crossing a spring bridge across the Nile. Take a two-hour river cruise to the source of the mighty Nile River, where it spills from Lake Victoria, traveling 4,000 miles (6,437 km) to the Mediterranean Sea, making it the world's longest waterway. Take in the scenery as you float past riverside communities. Back on land, end the day with a visit to a Jinja arts and crafts center where you can pick up handmade souvenirs.

Day 3: Whitewater Rafting on the Nile, Transfer to Kampala

Day 4: Transfer to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Your driver will pick you up today for the long journey northwest to Murchison Falls National Park. Lying at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, Murchison is Uganda's oldest and biggest national park and comprises a boundless savanna bisected by the Nile. The biodiversity here is incredible—you'll find over 76 species of mammals and 451 different birds.

On the way to Murchison Falls, you'll stop for a rhino tracking experience at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Learn how the sanctuary has successfully bred over a dozen white rhinos and join a guide for a safari to spot one of these endangered creatures. Have lunch at Amuka Lodge before continuing to the national park, where you'll pause at Murchison Falls to witness the power of the Nile as it squeezes through a 23-foot (7 m) gap, creating a 150-foot (45 m) waterfall. 

Day 5: Murchison Falls Cruise, Hike & Evening Game Drive

Discover the natural wonders of Murchison Falls National Park, home to iconic African species, from elephants and giraffes to big cats. Take an afternoon boat cruise along the Nile, looking out for hippos, crocodiles, and the rare shoebill stork. You'll sail to the bottom of Murchison Falls and then disembark for a hike through the landscape for more scenic views of the falls. 

This evening, you'll enjoy a game drive along the southern banks of the Nile. Bump through the savanna to catch glimpses of the African Big Five—lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant, and buffalo. Other wildlife highlights include grazing game such as hartebeests and bushbuck, as well as predators like hyenas and a range of exotic birdlife. Return to your lodge afterward for a relaxing evening.

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Today, make the seven-hour scenic drive through the Ugandan countryside to the wildlife hotspot of Kibale Forest National Park. This thick forest is home to over 13 species of primates, including chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, rare L'Hoest's monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, black-faced vervet monkeys, baboons, and bush babies.

As you reach Fort Portal, you'll soak up views of the Ruwenzori Range, a collection of six glaciated peaks that soar 16,800 feet (5,119 m) in elevation and are often referred to as the "Mountains of the Moon." Take an optional tour of Fort Portal, visiting historic sights like the Fort Portal Palace to learn about the city's cultural heritage. Transfer to your forested lodge, where you can fall asleep to the sounds of monkey calls.

Day 7: Bigodi Swamp Walk, Transfer to Bwindi

This morning you'll drive to the nearby Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary. Take a guided walk through this biodiverse haven, navigating forest pathways and boardwalks that lead through the wetlands past towering papyrus trees. Look for over 200 bird species and eight primate species along the way as you head to a treehouse high in the canopy. You'll also get to meet the local Tooro community, try your hand at basket weaving, and visit a traditional herbalist.

Afterward, get back on the road, traveling southwest to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site and one of the world's richest biological and botanical regions. The journey takes you through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where there's a chance to spot game, including tree-climbing lions. Arrive in Bwindi and check into your lodge for a restful evening.

Day 8: Ultimate Gorilla Trekking Experience

Embark upon an extraordinary gorilla trekking experience today in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which covers 128 square miles (331 sq km) of pristine rainforest over 25,000 years old. This verdant landscape is home to around 400 wild mountain gorillas, which comprise around half the world's population of these critically-endangered apes. In addition, the park provides sanctuary for a further 120 mammal species, including baboons, chimpanzees, elephants, and antelopes. 

Accompanied by a specialist guide and rangers, you'll trek through dense foliage in search of an elusive gorilla troop. These primate families are "habituated," meaning that while they live in their natural habitat, they are visited by rangers for several hours each day and are used to being near humans. As part of anti-poaching efforts, the apes are under 24-hour monitoring, and your visit helps support this vital work. 

Once you've located a gorilla family, leave your things behind you and approach the gentle giants with only your camera. A well-trained guide will talk you through the family's behavior as they feed, play, interact, or sleep. Spend an hour with the gorillas and then head back to base. Treks typically last four to six hours, depending on your gorilla family's location.

Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Game Drive

Head back to Queen Elizabeth National Park today. Set on the vast Rift Valley floor, the park is comprised of dozens of ancient craters carved into rolling hills, set against a backdrop of the majestic Rwenzori Mountains. Its diverse ecosystems, from sprawling savannas to forests, lakes, and fertile wetlands, are home to classic big game, 10 primate species, and over 600 types of colorful birds.

Explore the remote Ishasha section and have lunch before continuing into the park. There's time to settle in before your afternoon game drive in the Kasenyi sector, known for its numerous lions that prey on the large population of Uganda kob (antelope). If you're lucky, you may spot a giant forest hog—Africa's largest pig—or an elusive leopard. Other wildlife sightings include elephants, warthogs, and elands. Return to your lodge to savor a final night in the Ugandan wilderness. 

Day 10: Transfer to Entebbe, Depart